Low cost carrier Ryanair will increase frequencies on a number of routes for a limited period from late April until the end of May. The airline has added eleven additional weekly flights from Zagreb, falling outside the Easter and school holiday peak in late March and early April. The increase is primarily the result of reallocated capacity following the planned temporary suspension of services to Basel due to runway works at the Swiss airport over the same period. Routes receiving extra flights include Sofia, Rome, Naples, London Stansted, Alicante and Manchester.
Ryanair will double frequencies between Zagreb and Sofia during the limited late April to end-May period, increasing services from three to six weekly, with two daily flights on Saturdays. The carrier will also boost operations to Rome from the initially planned six to nine weekly, adding a second daily flight on Thursdays and Sundays. Last year, Ryanair operated seven weekly rotations on the route during the same period. Other services gaining an additional weekly rotation compared to the original plan include London Stansted (nine weekly), Alicante (three weekly) and Manchester (three weekly).
Despite these increases, Ryanair will still operate three fewer weekly flights in April and May compared to last year. However, for the remainder of the 2026 summer season, the airline is currently scheduled to average five additional weekly flights versus the previous year. During the first half of 2026, Ryanair has 935.740 seats on the market on its Zagreb flights. The figure represents an increase of 2.3% compared to last year’s 914.824 seats. The number of flights increase 1.9% over the same period.
Nice to see Sofia getting extra flights. Six weekly is much better and makes weekend trips a lot easier.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the most SOF flights we have had.
DeleteZagreb–Sofia could also work year-round at higher frequencies. Hopefully this is a test for something permanent.
DeleteThey increased Sofia this much because this will coincide with Orthodox Easter, May Day and another public holiday in Bulgaria. So I assume they expect increased demand.
DeleteIt's nothing to do with that and all to do with aircraft availability. Sofia and Basel rotations are the same duration.
DeleteThis is nice. But still below last year. I was honestly expecting new routes from FR.
ReplyDeleteThis is very poor growth, actually stagnation. Devastating for an ULCC
DeleteThey are waiting to see how their negotiations with ZAG go.
DeleteActually it is more:
Delete"During the first half of 2026, Ryanair has 935.740 seats on the market on its Zagreb flights. The figure represents an increase of 2.3% compared to last year’s 914.824 seats. The number of flights increase 1.9% over the same period"
+2.3% seats is basically flat. Zagreb still has room for much more.
Delete@09:35
DeleteWhy are you ruining it for him with facts?
^ you mean this?
Delete"Despite these increases, Ryanair will still operate three fewer weekly flights in April and May compared to last year. "
@09:59
DeleteNo I mean this:
"During the first half of 2026, Ryanair has 935.740 seats on the market on its Zagreb flights. The figure represents an increase of 2.3% compared to last year’s 914.824 seats. The number of flights increase 1.9% over the same period"
But you can try to find disaster anywhere you can I guess. 🤷♂️
It is neither good nor a disaster. People need to stop arguing. Calling it "devastating" is absurd. But it's also a bit disappointing because we need Porto, Riga, Helsinki, Bilbao, Edinburgh, Shannon, etc etc and Croatia Airlines isn't going to deliver it so we need to wait for Ryanair to launch these routes.
DeleteThe airport management needs to be told off by the government for not doing anything and for avoiding terminal expansion.
And when is Zagreb's runway works? Will it impact flights?
ReplyDeletein May. According to this article
Delete"The measures may impact maximum take-off weight for wide-body aircraft, which could result in limitations to fuel, cargo or passenger loads."
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2025/12/zagreb-airport-plans-runway-works-in.html
Thank you
DeletePity it's just for 2 months.
ReplyDeleteRome at nine weekly is strong for such a short window. Clearly the demand is there.
ReplyDeleteI just don't get how Croatia Airlines can stay competitive with its flights via Split and Dubrovnik in the 21st century.
DeleteIt can't. And it isn't competitive. That's why Ryanair flies nine weekly.
DeleteInteresting that even with these “extra” flights they are still down compared to last year for April/May. Doesn’t really sound like growth.
ReplyDeleteIf they can add 11 extra flights for a few weeks, why not keep some of them for the full season?
ReplyDeleteThey would need extra planes for that. Their aircraft are fully utilized.
DeleteGood news
ReplyDeleteSo will Basel be completely closed during the runway work or will traffic be reduced?
ReplyDeleteBasel won’t be completely closed but traffic will be significantly reduced.
DeleteFrom the airport's website
Delete"EuroAirport’s main runway (15/33) will be fully closed for works from 15 April to 20 May 2026, however operations will continue using the shorter secondary runway (07/25), meaning only limited flight operations will be possible and many airlines will cancel or cut schedules."
Thanks
DeleteAn indication of which routes could see extra flight in a future expansion.
ReplyDelete+1
Deletethanks for keeping us updated. Don't think anyone noticed these extra flights. Truly amazing to see Sofia with two flights in one day to ZAG.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how flights to MAN from Ljubljana will affect the Ryanair loads in Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteApparently not very much since they are increasing capacity.
DeleteMaybe they are trying to fight easyJet on the route. Let's see how it turns out.
DeleteIt just feels weird than Manchester can sustain routes to both LJU and ZAG but not to BEG.
DeleteJU with the E-jets now has the ideal equipment for such a route. Or with the Air Baltic's A220.
How is it "weird"? Slovenia and Croatia have a huge amount of British tourists, while neither Croats nor Slovenes need visas to enter the UK.
DeleteSerbia is a far bigger market and BEG is a major hub for the region. It should easily support at least double weekly flights to MAN.
DeleteNumber of British tourists is minimal and no one wants to pay 300 euros and wait a month for a single entry visa to the UK.
DeleteBravo Hrvatska!
ReplyDelete